Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-15

little difference.
Just then Tom Jones came along COM
planning OF the heat. Toms section
Was near the big engine that kept tho
machinery running, and the cool air
from outside hadn't reached him yet
"I'm cool az n cucumber" said |.
"Hullo You've got on n thick coat
and I've got on thin one. Let's
change about" I never cav man
more relieved than Tom when he
handed over his CASHMERE TO me and
got into my linen buster. "Ten thou
sand thanks 10 you. Brown" he said.
"H your mowing-machinc turns
ont q failrre I'll give you an
interest in my chickcn.hatcher.
Much good your old wooden hen
viii do anybody shouted back good
humoredly. Tom laughed back re-
ply, waving his hand in mock pride to-
ward his little poultry-yard, when
som, thing awful Happened. There was
n terrible and dealcning roar, the air
IVES thick with smoke.and steam and
flying objects, drops OF some horrible
fluid spsttered everywhere, and felt
stunning blow on the top of my head
The next that l remember / found
myself sitting on pile of lumber ont.
side Somebody yelled
"The engine has blown up !"
Some people were running out Of the
building and great many were run
! mig toward ii. There was great deal Of
screaming and crying, but i couldn't
understand what it was all about, and
didn't care to. The pain in my head
was intolerable ] put my hand up
and found that my hair was sticky and
wet with blood. / stole around to the
rear of the building and washed my
self there, but there were stains on
my clothing that wouldn't come
OIL. Some people who were stand
ing around looked at me curiously, but
l kept my head turned away, for it
vexed me to 10 noticed. After awhile
| went back to the pile OF boards. 1t
was dark then, and 1 felt stupid and
tired, but had no inclination to go back
TO my boarding place. In fact, l was
so confused and mixed up that ! wasn't
sure / could find it If | tried. Gradu
ely the noises became distant and in
distinct, the lights receded. and the big
building faded away.
The reXt that | remember | was sit
ting up, wide awake. Not awake in
the ordinary sense of healthy, cheer
full activity OF brain and body, but with
that dreadful pressure on my head still
weighing me down, while all my facul-
ties were unnaturally shGrpened and
strained. I knew now, as well ms
if i had been told, exactly what
had happened. Tom Jones bad
tried to blow up my machine and
kill me. 1t was a vile conspiracy
TO get possession of my wife and pro-
perry. Yes. and Jane was in it, and
Rob. l hadn't friend on earth bat
poor little Ellie, who was too small
and innocent to take part in their vii
famous schemes. Or, perhaps, he was
going to teal my patent. l would
foil him there. Ny papers were all
safe in my hreast-pocket. reached
into ny pocket and drew them out,
and spread them before me in the pale
light of dawn. Good Heavens
They were al descriptions Of the egg
hatcher, with cuts of the machine.
Then remembered the change of coats,
all o part of the same cruel plot. Ny
whole mind became concentrated upon
the thought OF revenge. How to get
blood thirsty. diabolical attempt to the
world. I held my head tightly between
my hands, for it seemed as if il would
burst. Something came peeping and
yipping over my foot. It was one OF
those poor, little, half-feathered mon
strosties that Tom had Matched out Of
bis internal machine.
At the sight of this a brilliant thought
entered my mind. ! would steal Toms
patent. Not there whore people knew
| all about it, and he had friends who
would work against me, but | would go
away off somewhere and get some rich
man to take itup. There was wealthy
railway president in New York, whose
name ! had seen IN the papers, and
who rad reputation for enterprise and
bold speculation. / would go to him.
lay down the case, and get him in
t,rtstcd in it. Once get capital en-
listed On my side and Tom would have
10 sort Of show.
took the chicken and stuffed it into
my pocket Tor a sample. Somebody
cane along, and ! knew it was spy
TCm lad sent out to hunt around for
IYc and see If / was still alive. So |
,rcucied beside the pile Of boards to
wait Tor The Men 60 pass. The chicken
IN my rocket pceped-l squeezed 1t to
stop It's noise /, t.attercd little, but
lretty soon it was still. Then ! Pose
cautiously and made my way down TO
tie Eg Union dept. keeping on the
outskirts a the town and lodging
everybody ] saw. Luckily my wallet
war in my trousers pocket, and ! had
enough money 10 pay my fare, with
| little TO SPARE. foDni it hard to count
the mon, Y when pad fer my ticket,
and was sure the agent cheated me 0lt
/ Of dollar 1 so.6 him sOwlih dignity,
| but would not make fuss over It for
fear of attracting attention. got into
the car and found II seat behind tAe
door, where i NOald be free IRON OBJ
servation The more / Thought 1t over
the more ! disEked to ask a
big capitalist to 90 into chick
en.raising. There seemed some
thing trifing and mean i'll the very sag
gesticn. But why bother with such i'll
significant things? Since the princ!-
pie would apply 70 hens eggs, why not
10 turkeys? And if to turkeys, why
not TO ostriches'? Alb, ! had it Ali
gators That would I've an enterprise
worth taking up. We would supply
alligetors for the New York market
We would see that every town i'll the
United States had an slligator-pOnd.
We would FIJI orders from mcnageries,
dine museums, geological gardens. We
would lave great tanneries for curing
alligator SKINS, and supersede calf
skin, goat.skin, and kid. 1 was SO
elated ct the idea that / clapped my
hands and tossed my hat in the air.
Here, you 4" said the conductor
anerily, coming mp from the other END
OF the car; "what are YOU thinking
about %
"Alligators," said !, smiling shrewd-
ly at him, as leaned forward with a
hand resting on either knee.
"Well, behave yourself, anyhow"